Glory Seed Devotional, 2017.02.27

“He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”” (Mark 14:35–36, NLT)

I’ve heard and read stories about one’s life flashing before their eyes as they’ve face situations that would end in their death. Personally I’ve never has such an experience although I was in a head on car accident once, went to war aboard the USS Newman K. Perry, been through numerous hip surgeries, and open heart surgery however. In case you’re wondering where I am going here it comes. Jesus knew his death was just around the corner, do you suppose as he had his head bowed and praying He possibly saw His life flashing before His eyes? I do and I’ve another idea too, suppose instead of seeing his own life flashing before His eyes He watched as your life from start to finish and everything in between flashing before His eyes.

Jesus said, ”…I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, LEB) Jesus made it possible for us to have an abundant life through his death and resurrection. For me that makes it more than possible Jesus was able to see your life in its entirety. I know I’m putting the stretch on your imagination but for few minutes think about the possibility that being able to see the difference He made in your life was part of God’s plan to strengthen Him for what was yet to come. Think about… His arrest… His closest friends running away… Standing before the Jewish leadership… Standing before Pilate… Hearing His only countrymen calling for his crucifixion… Hearing Peter deny Him… The beatings… The mocking… His death march to the cross… The crucifixion…

In two days on Ash Wednesday the Easter season and Lent officially gets underway. I am not sure how you practice and understand Lent but I hope each of us can take the time to honestly consider where we would be had Jesus seen His own life flash before His eyes and decided to let you work out your own salvation, awakened His disciples and left the Garden of Gethsemane before the mob arrived. We must NEVER forget Jesus DECIDED to sacrifice Himself for you. God said, “Who can I send to the cross so my people will live?” And Jesus promptly replied, “Here am I send me!”

In case you ever wonder how much Jesus loves you, He loves you to tomb and beyond!

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”**